Signaling means for fire-alarms.



G. N OAGK. SIGNALING MEANS FOR FIRE ALARMS. APPLICATION FILED JULY 10, 1903.

1,039,996. Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

al M.

G. NOAGK.

SIGNALING MEANS FOR FIRE ALARMS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 10,1908.

1,039,996, Patented Oct. 1,1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

G. NOAGK.

SIGNALING MEANS FOBI'IRE ALARMS.

' APILIQATION FILED JULY 10, 1908.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CARL NOACK, OF CHARLOTTENBURG, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO SIEMENS & HALSKE, A. G., OF BERLIN, GERMANY, A CORPORATION OF GERMANY.

SIGNALING MEANS FOR FIRE-ALARMS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 1, 1912.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CARL NoACK, a sub-' ject of the German Emperor, and residing at Charlottenburo', near Berlin, Germany, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signaling Means tor Fire- Alarms and Like Purposes, of/which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to signaling means, particularly for fire-alarm and other alarm purposes, in which the position of a transmitter or signal-box mechanism which is actuated is indicated at an optional number of places in the central station in various ways, as by a Morse recording instrument, or acoustically and optically. In such means, particularly in fire-alarm installations, it has for long been desired to provide a mode of working such that thel staff of attendants has to make only 'a very few manipulations at thetime or after the receipt of an alarm, the goal aimed at being to make a system which entirely does away with the attendants. The first'requirement was heretofore partially fulfilled, particularly in fire-alarm installations, inasmuch as the receiving apparatuses were connected in circuit automatically, and the alarm signals were automatically transmitted further to different parts of the central station, whether optically or acoustically. But in order to enable additional signals to be received to as complete an extent as is necessary byall receiving apparatuses, manipulations, namely pulling out and replacing individual receivmg apparatuses, were, still necessary. This is true particularly for ,fire-alarm'installations, the alarms of which are so arranged that always one alarm only can be received at one time, whereas further signal-box mechanisms are checked until the mentioned replacement has taken place at the central station. If the manipulation at the centralstation apparatuses which come into consideration'can be made very simply in welldesigned systems, it is still not impossible for mistakes to be made, and above all the attendant who is called may be prevented at the given moment by other devices from effecting this replacement, so that there would either be a delay with regard to the receipt of a second or further alarm, or, if the system enables the alarm to be received by individual apparatuses of the entire system without replacement, the receipt of the alarm would not be considerably delaycd, but an error could easily 'occur. In

any case the receiving a pparatuscs had to be replaced by "hand in these systems also.

An important object of the present invention is to do away with the above defects.

In accordance with the invention all the apparatuses of the central station which come into consideration for the alarm are replaced firstly automatically, either immediately after the receipt of an alarm or only so much later as corresponds to the conditions, 2'. e. to the readiness of the fire-brigade which comes into consideration to start off, and secondly, so that the optical and acoustic annunciators can receive further alarms in full extent again independently of any attendance and service. In accordance with the invention, this automatic replacement is substantially made possible by a special member or device being actuated at the same time as the alarm is received, and the individual apparatuses which have been actuated when the alarm was received are automatically replaced under the mentioned conditions, by this special member or device.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, reference is made to the accompanying drawing, in which fire-alarm installations are shown diagrammatically, by way of example, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diagram showing one form of a fire-alarm installation, whereas Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a modified form, a time switch being here employed; Fig. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a signalbox mechanism; Fi s. 4 and 5 show one constructional form 0? the safety device, Fig. 5 being an elevation and Fig. 4 a horizontal section in the plane XY in Fig. {3, whereas Fig. 6 is a diagrammaticperspective view of one constructional form of an electr0- magnetic switching device.

Referring to the drawing, in the form of installation represented in Fig. 1, an alarm is indicated or announced in the central station by three different kinds of receiving apparatuses, namely a recording device'A, preferably a Morse recording apparatus, a sounding alarm or bell B and special lampboards 0,, C or one controlling lampboard (Ll By means of a known safety device D (Figs. 1 and 2) which has several circuits. for example two closed circuit. loops 1 and II, of which each contains several signahhox mechanisms ll (Fi i. 3) indicated by crosses. and by means of common receiving device A, B, C C only one single alarm is received in the central station. The light signals C C. .,C,, are connected in circuit in known manner by an electrically operated switching device F, shown in Fig. 0. \Vhen an alarm is received and until the devices which participate in it. are replaced. the operations which are caused are as follows: Supposing that the alarm is announced by a signal-box mechanism l) in loop I carrying the number 23 for example, when the handle. 100 (Fig. of this mechanism is pulled. the cog-wheel 10-t actuated by the weight 101 and driving a brake-fan 102 is released, the axle 103 which carries the cog-wheel, a circuit-wheel (1. and an ebonite eccentric Z is rotated, and the circuit of loop I is broken by the circuitwheel 1 The armature of the-line-relay G, therefore falls down. whereby the contact c, of a calling-circuit is closed and the call: inc electromagnet H receives current from the battery The armature (l of the electromagnet ll is attracted, and the annunciator 6 falls and closes a contact During the alarm this contact f remains continuously closed until the replacing device returns the parts to their normal or commencin o; position. \Vhen the armature (l is attracted, the contacts g, influenced by this armature are opened before the contact 7 is closed. 3y closing the. contact the tlGCllOlHtlQ'llOt J of the safety device D. which is more fully explained hereafter. is first energizml by means of the following circuit: positive pole of the battery K, contact f, conductor 10. electromagnet J of the safety device D. conductor 11, negative pole of the battery K. The switch members'h, and /L. are thereby raised from the contacts 1', and 2,, so that the latter open in the loops 1 and ll and connect in circuit the resistances K, and K which, in consequence of the continuous excitation of the electromagnct .l, remain connected in circuit as long as the alarm lasts and are cut out of circuit again in succession atintervals of suitable duration after the alarm. These resistances K,, K, weaken the current in the loops I and II in such manner that the current which flows through the releasing winding m, rubbing contact 105, axle 103 and circuit-wheel IL of anyother signal-box mechanism E after the corresponding switch Z, has been opened Fi e. 3) does not suttice for releasing this alarm. The releasing magnet m controls the operation of the circuit. wheel a in a signal box (f such as is shown in Fig. 3

in the following manner: By pulling the thrown into circuit cannot be handle 100 which is attached to hell crank 103 pivoted at 111, lug 112 which is provided on the other arm of the bell crank is removed from the path of a stop provided on wheel 104: (stop not shown in the drawings) so that wheel 104 can rotate by means of a weight 101 attached as shown. This rotates shaft 108 on which is fastened snail cam Z which cooperates with contact 106.- This contact as shown in Fig. 3 is normally closed so that magnet m is short circuited thereby. hen the member of this contact which is in engagement with snail am Z falls off the end of the cam when shaft- 103 rotates. contact 100 is opened and thereby magnet on thrown into circuit. If only one signal box is in operation this electromagnet m is energized by the full line current whereby its armature 107 is attracted. This removes armature 107 from the path of stop member 109 fixed on wheel 101 so that this wheel under the influence of weight 101 is free to make one full revolution. If, on the other hand, another signal box is already in operation, magnet 19? indeed is also now thrown into the circuit when handle 100 is pulled as described before, but. owing to the resistances K K (in Fig. 1) being then in circuit with the line, the line current is weakened to such an extent so that armature 107 of the signal box which has been now attracted. This lug 108 of armature 107 is in the path of stop 100 and wheel 101 when the handle 100 is pulled under these circumstances can revolve only until stop 109 abuts against lug 108. Now after the cycle of operations of the signal box first operated has been completed and the resistances K, and K have been thereby automatically short-circuited magnet in. of the signal box receives now the full line current and withdraws its armature with lug 108 from the path of stop 109 and now wheel 104 is permitted to make one whole revolution. After the safety device D has been actuated by the first interruption in the circuit caused by the circuit-wheel a, the alarm is given at the different indicating devices of the central station by a suitable combination of rushes of current. Thus by opening and closing the contact 9, by means of the armature (Z the recorder A is actuated. By the contact operated by the same current impulses which open and close contact (7,, electromagnet L of the switching device F, to be described hereinafter, is energized by the following circuit: positive pole of battery K, contact 7, contact 57,, conductor 13, contact 0,, conductor 14, electromagnet L, conductor 15, negative pole of battery K. This electromagnet L throws, by means of its armature 18, switch arms a and n, onto the contacts 2 and 3 corresponding with the number'of the signal box IE. Lastly, the same rushes of current cause alarm 13 to be sounded by rushes of current in the following circuit: positive pole of the battery K, contact f, conductor 12, contact 9 conductor 16, alarm B, conductor 17, contact 32,, conductor 15, negative pole of the battery K.

In the constructional form represented as an example, each announcement or alarm is repeated three times. After the first alarm the circuit-wheel interrupts the circuit for a somewhat long time and a retarding device M comes into action. The circuit isas follows: positive pole of the battery K, contact f, line 12, contact 9 line 18, electromagnet of the retarding device M, line 19, line 15, negative pole of the battery K. The armature of the device M is attracted by the current in this circuit and is held in the attracted position by a catch 9, The contact 0 is thereby broken and a contact 0 closed. The interruption of the circuit at contact 0 causes the switching device F to be cut out of circuit, so that its electromagnet L cannot be energized again and attract its armature when the alarm is repeated. By closing the contact 0 the circuit of the lamp-boards is closed and is as follows: positive pole of the source of current 20,, line 20, contact 0 line 21, contact 1', line 22, through the lamps 2 and 3of the boards C C C the switch arms a and a line 23 to the negative pole of the source of current 20 for the lamps. Thus when the alarm is repeated by the circuit-- wheel a; the lamp-boards indicate the number 23 of the mechanism E which has been pulled, whereas the alarm B gives acoustic signals and the device A permanently records the alarm. When the circuit at the circuit-wheel a was last closed, a rush of current of sufficiently long duration in the electromagnet G, made the following circuit of a second retardation relay N by the contact 0 being open for a correspondingly long time and the contact 9, being thereby closed :positive pole of the battery K, contact f, conductor 12, contact 9,, conductor 24, electromagnet of the retardation device N, conductors 19, 15, negative pole of the battery K. The armature of the retardation device N is therebv attracted and'held by a catch a, so that it breaks the contact 77 and closes a second contact 17 On account of the former contact being broken the.

alarm B is cut out of circuit, whereas the closure of the latter contact 79,. connects in circuit the replacing member which forms an important feature of the invention and which is a special relay P in the constructional form represented. The relay P is energized by current in the following circuit: positive pole of the battery K, line25, winding of the relay P, contact 79,, line 15, negative pole of the battery K. By closing the contacts t the armature of this re lay connects in circuit the real replacing electromagnet R which is preferably actuated by strong current, the winding of the magnet B being connected through feeders I shaft u carries levers o as. and shaft u carries lever e by which the different devices are automatically replaced into'their original or normal positions. Vhen the shaft 'z-is rotated in the direction of the arrow the catch 10 of the electromagnetic switching device F is disengaged by the lever 4),, so that the switch levers 92-, a, re turn into their normal positions under the action of springs n n The" contact 'rof the lamp-conductors 21, 22 is broken by the lever '0 before the catch to is disengaged, so that formation of sparks at the switch levers n, n, and their contacts 1, 2, 3 is avoided. hen the shaft u is rotated still further a contact a: on the safety device D is closed by the arm a through which contact an electromagnet S receives current in the following circuit: positive pole of the battery K, electromagnet S, line 28, contact m, lines 29, 11. negative pole of the battery K. On account. of the armature 1 of this magnet S being attracted, the catches (7 and s of the retardation devices M and N are released and the annunciator e is raised, so that these devices are again in their normal position. At the same time when the annunciator e was raised, the contact f was opened and the circuit of the electromagnet J of the safety device was broken. The

. safety device is thereby released, so that the switches 7a,, 71 close the contacts 2' 11 in succession again and the resistances K,, K, of the separate loops I, II are short circuited again. Further alarms can now be received by all the receiving apparatuses of the central station. One constructional form of this safety device D is represented in Figs. 4.- and 5. The switches h h; for connecting in circuit the resistances K, and K and which consist of springs are pressed against the contacts 2',. 5,, by projections in,

k of the cylinder or barrel 61. The provjections h,, I are so arranged that the switches k h are opened or closed in different positions of the barrel 61 when the latter rotates. The barrel 61 is fixed on the shaft to which is connected the one end of the spiral spring 62, whereas the other end of the latter is attached to the frame 63 of the apparatus. With the shaft 60 there is rigidly connected the one half 0:, of the toothed coupling m, the other half m of which is fastened on the shaft i The couplingis thrown into gear under the pressure of the spring 64. The shaft u, is connected by the toothed wheel 65 with a clockwork of which. only the wheel 66, the shaft u, (see Fig. 1) connected with the latter by a ratchet wheel 68 for winding up the clockwork, and the spring-barrel 69 are represented. The clockwork cannot run down so far that its spring is completely relaxed, since the part a, of coupling Z connected with the shaft u, hits against the part 2 of coupling Z connected with the shaft u and armature R, when the spring is still tensioned a certain amount. Thus this ten- 'sion is a force which holds in their normal positions the clockwork and the switchbarrel G1, the latter being connected with the clockwork by the coupling x and being under the influence of the tensioned spring 62. The coupling m can be disconnected by the lever-arm 72 which is connected with the armature '73 of electromagnet J. Now when the signal box mechanism E is pulled, as explained above, the electromagnet J is energized. Consequently the armature 7 3 is attracted and the coupling 00 disengaged, so that the spring 62 is suddenly relaxed and the shaft 60 and the barrel 61 connected with it is rotated rapidly a corresponding amount. The projections h h release the springs 71. it, almost simultaneously, so that they rise from their contacts 2' 2' and the previously short-eircuited resistances K K are connectedin circuit in all the loops. hen the armature of the electromagnet R is attracted, the shaft u, is rotated bythe coupling Z and winds up the clockwork. After the electromagnet R is not excited in consequence of the catch .9 being released, its armature falls down quickly, whereas the'shaft uis rotated backward slowly by the clockwork, and the switches h 71, are closed again in succession and brought into their normal positions.

Fig. 6 shows one constructional form of the electromagnetic switching device F. The armature 80 moved by the electromagnet L is connected with a retarding device 81 in such manner that it is attracted rapidly but retreats again slowly. The lever 82 carrying this armature engages by means of a catch or pawl 83 in the teeth of the ratchet wheel .84.. The shaft 85 of the latter carries three arms 86, 87, 88' which are displaced relatively to one another corresponding to the pitch of the ratchet wheel. Each lever has to move one of the three pawl and ratchet mechanisms 89, 90, 91. These have a common axle 92 but are revoluble independently of one another however. Ratchet wheel 84 is under the influence of spiral spring 84,, which tends to turn the wheel in the direction of the arrow I oppositely to the direction in which pawl 83 tends to move the ratchet wheel. If now magnet L is energized by a current impulse armature 80 is attracted quickly and is capable of retreating only if the current is interrupted for a certain time as occurs between two impulse series. 'Then ratchet wheel 84 moves one step forward so that shaft 85 is turned through a certain angle when armature 80 is released from the magnet. Thereby for instance lever 87 may have been brought into engagement with ratchet wheel 90, while at the same time lever 86 has been disengaged from ratchet wheel 89. However, in case current impulses occurring in short succession energize magnet L, armature 80, owing to the action of the retarding device swings only a short distance away from the magnet before another current impulse occurs, which distance is not sufiicient to cause the pawl, which is in engagement with ratchet 84 to fall into the next toot-h, but the pawl oscillates at every short current impulse on the tooth with which it is at present in engagement, so that through cooperation of this armature and spiral spring 84:, an oscillating motion is imparted to ratchet wheel 84. This oscillating motion is, however, sufiicient to cause, for instance, the pawl provided at the end of arm 87 and in engagement with ratchet wheel 90, to move this ratchet wheel forward one tooth at every oscillation, so that the contact wheel 90 which is coupled with ratchet wheel 90 and which operates contact lever n is gradually turned so that its contact arm on slides step by step over the several contacts, as shown in Fig. 2. In similar manner lever arms 88 and 86 may be brought in or out of engagement with their respective ratchet wheels 91 and 89. All these pawl and ratchet mechanisms tension spiral springs, 12. n 9a,, and are held by pawls ordogs 'w 'w w, in the position in which they are placed at any time. These dogs, however, can be withdrawn by the lever Q), on the shaft u (Figs. 1 and 2), so that after the signals have been transmitted all the ratchet wheels and the parts connected with them can return under the action of the spiral springs into their commencing position and in this manner the apparatus is placed ready for a new alarm or indication. Each of the pawl and ratchet mechanisms 89, 90, 91 is connected with a switch-lever n of which only one is shown in Fig. 6, whereas two are indicated in Fig. 1. When the electromagnet L is energized and disconnected from its source of current, the pawl and ratchet mechanisms are actuated and the respective lever 92. is moved over the contacts 97 which connect in circuit the lamps for illuminating the numerals on the lamp-boards C C and C 'lhcsc lampsare connected on the one hand with the contacts 97 and on the other hand with the source of current 20,, the latter being connected by means of a sliding contact 98 with the shaft 92.

The armature P of the relay P is provid- 55 done away with again owing to the arma ture 45 falling down and the contact 46 maepee ed with an air-brake T or the like, the purpose of which is to close the circuit for the electromagnet R for as long a time as possible, so that the retardation devices M and N are disengaged with certainty and the annunciator e is raised into its normal position. The replacing relay P can also be connected in circuit as desired aftera quite definite time. In this case it is connected in circuit by a time switch which is preferably set working when the circuit-wheel of a signal-box mechanism, which has been pulled, breaks the circuit for the second time. Such an arrangement is represented in Fig. 2 as an example in one constructional form; means for starting the time switch and means by which the latter switches the replacing relay into circuit are shown in combination with the signaling means as shown in Fig. 1. In order to set the time switch U working, a relay 30 is fed with current for the battery K through a special contact 9, by means of the armature of the calling electromagnet H. When the circuit is first interrupted at the circuit-wheel a the switch lever 32 for'connecting in cireuit the time switch U is first moved by the armature 31 of the relay 30 from the position 0 into the position 1, and at the second interruption of the circuit into the final position 2. In this latterposition the feeding electromagnet 32 of the time switch U obtains current from the battery 33 in the following circuit: positive pole of the battery 33, line 34, contact 2, line 35, electromagnet 32,, line 36, a switch 37 which is more particularly explained hereafter,= line 38, negative-pole of the battery 33. On account of the current in this circuit the armature 39 of the electromagnet 32 feeds forward the ratchet wheel 40 of the time switch U a definite number of teeth, for example two. The armature 39 then closes a contact 41, through which a relay 42 is supplied with current from the battery 43. When the armature 45 of the relay which is provided with anair-brake 44 is attracted, this relay closes a contact 46, by which the feeding electromagnet 32 is short circuited along the lines 47, 48. Consequently the electromagnet 32 becomes inoperative, the armature 39 falls back two teeth, the contact 41 is again interrupted and the short circuit of the electromagnet 32 is opening. The wheel 40 is now fed forward again two teeth. The cycle of operationsis repeated until the wheel 40 has rotated one complete revolution. When this has occurred, a contact is closed by means of a nose 49 on the ratchet wheel 40, through which contact the circuit for the replacing relay P is closed which operates the replac- 65 ing electromagnet R in the manner above described with reference to Fig. 1. In order to prevent the time switch being fed farther forward when the contact 50 is closed by the nose 4!), it is necessary that at this moiment the circuit for the feeding electrofmagnet 32 remain open until the devices Ehave been replaced into their normal positions. This interruption may, for ex- ;ample, be brought about by short circuiting the electromagnet or by interrupting its conductors, a coilu'esponding switch being moved by a noseon the ratchet wheel. For the sake of clearness this arrangement has not been represented particularly in Fig. 2.

The stroke of the armature 39 may be regulated by a set screw 51. According to the position of this screw when the armature 39 is attracted, the ratchet wheel 40 can be fed forward a different number of teeth. As a rule a more rapid succession of .alarms will be permitted during the day ithan during the night. For working in the {day-time the above mentioned switch 37 is .placed in the position shown in the drawing. In this position it short circuits an electroimagnet 52. The latter serves for retarding the movement of the ratchet wheel at night by the one end of an armature when attracted by its magnet, extending into the path of the feeding armature 39 and thereby shortening the stroke of the latter, for ex ample for feeding the ratchet wheel 40 only .one tooth at a time. For night working the switch 37 only requires to be placed in the positionshown in dotted lines in order to connect in circuit the night electromagnet 52. Preferably an incandescent lamp 54 is connected in circuit in the latter position of this switch, which lamp provides a check for the position of the switch at any time. .The switch 37 is preferably connected with that which controls lamps used in the evening and at night. The switch lever 32 can be replaced into the zero position by releasing the catch or hook by means of the replacing electroniagnet R, or also by the ratchet wheel 40 when it closes the contact 50. As will be seen from Fig. 2 the free end of catch or pawl forms the armature of electromagnet 113 which is in circuit with a battery 114. This circuit can be closed at the points 115 and 116 by means of a contact arm '0 fastened on shaft at which is operated by replacing magnet R as ex- 'plained before. When this latter magnet is energized through the replacing relay P arm o, closes the contacts 115 and 116 and, Zthus magnet 113 is energized by battery 114, so that pawl 55 is lifted from the ratchet 'teeth and thus lever 32 rendered free to be :returned to zero by the tension of its spring.

The replacing relay P can be cut out of circuit in the. manner described with reference to Fig. 1, or also solely by the ratchet wheel 40 when the stop 49 is released.

placing means.

When the replacement is not to take place immediately after the alarm is received, instead of the time switch previously described, a retardation device of known kind may be employed which effects the replacement at the desired moment.

\Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a system of the character described, the combination with a plurality of signal box mechanisms, circuit controlling devices actuated automatically from said signal box mechanisms, and a plurality of receiving devices adapted to be actuated by said circuit controlling devices, and circuit connections for said devices; of electromagnetic replacing means for automatically replacing said circuit controlling devices into their normal positions after they have been actuated, and retarding means connected with said circuit connections and adapted to actuate said re- 2. In a system of the character described, the combination with a plurality of signal box mechanisms, circuit controlling devices actuated automatically from said signal box mechanisms, and a plurality of receiving de-' vices adapted to be actuated by said circuit controlling devices, and circuit connections for said device'sg'of a shaft carrying an armature and a plurality of levers adapted, when said shaft is rotated, to replace said circuit controlling devices into their normal positions after said devices have been actuated, a replacing lectromagnet for rotating said armature on said shaft, a source of current and retarding means connected with said circuit connections and adapted to connect said electromagnet in circuit with said source of current.

3. In a system of the character described,

the combination with-lamp boards, a spring pressed switching device for connecting said lamp boards in circuit, a plurality of signal box mechanisms adapted to automatically actuate said spring pressed switching device, and a dog for holding said switching device in its operative position; of an electromagnet and circuit connections for said switching device, a shaft carrying the armature of said magnet, a source of current, means connected with said circuit connections and adapted to connect said electromagnet in circuit with said source of current to rotate said armature on said shaft, and a lever on said shaft adapted to release said dog from said switching device.

4. In a system of the character described, the combination with a switching device, lamp boards adapted to be connected in circuit by said switching device, a plurality of signal box mechanisms adapted to automatically actuate said switching device, and a contact in the circuit of said lamp boards; of an elect-romagnetically operated lever for breaking the circuit of said lamp boards at said contact, and a replacing relay for actuating said lever.

5. In a system of the character described, the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated by said controlling devices, a plurality of signal box mechanisms adapted to automatically actuate said circuit controlling devices, retarding devices, an electromagnet having an armature adapted to replace said retarding devices after they have been actuated, and conductors for-connecting said retarding devices and said electromagnet; of a contact in the circuit of said electromagnet, a lever for closing said contact, and electromagnetic means suitably connected for actuating said lever to cause the replacing of said retarding devices when said contact is closed.

6. In a system of the character described, the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated by said controlling devices, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for automatically actuating said controlling devices, a calling electromagnet (I-I), an annunciator (6) adapted to be released by said magnet, an electromagnet (S) having an armature adapted to replace said annunciator, and conductors connecting said electromagnets (H, S)in said system; of a contact in the circuit of said electromagnet (S), a lever for closing said contact and electromagnetic means connected with said system for actuating said lever whereby when said contact is closed said annunciator is replaced.

7. Ina system of the character described,

the combination with circuit cont-rolling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated thereby, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for actuating said controlling devices, a spring controlled safety device (D), an electromagnet (J) carried thereon, a contact (as), a lever adapted to close said contact, and a contact (7) in the circuit of said 'electromagnet; of a calling electromagnet (H), an annunciator (e) adapted to be released by said calling magnet and to close said contact (f), an electromagnet (S) connected with 'a contact (no) and having an armature adapted to replace said annunciator, contacts connecting said electromagnet (J), contact w) and electromagnets (H, S) with said system, and electromagnetic means connected with said system for actuating said lever and for closing said contact causing, when said contact (an) is closed, the replacing of said annunciator, the opening of said contact (f) and the electromagnet (J) to be cut out of circuit.

8. In a system of the character described, the combination with a safety device (D) having a shaft (10,), of a shaft carrying an armature, an electromagnet (R) adapted to' be connected in circuit in said system to actuate said armature, and a spring pressed coupling (2) connecting said shafts for the purpose set forth. 7

9. In a system of the character described, the combination with controlling devices, a plurality of receivin devices actuated thereby, a plurality 0? signal box mechanisms for automatically actuating said controlling devices, and circuit connections; of a shaft carrying an armature and a plurality of levers adapted when said shaft is rotated to replace said circuit controlling devices into their normal positions after they have been actuated to give an alarm, a replacing electromagnet (R) for rotating said armature on said shaft, a source of current, a relay (P) for connecting saidsource of current with said electromagnet (R), and a time switch connected with saidcircuit connections adapted to actuate said relay.

10. In a system of the character described, the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated thereby, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for automatically actuating said circuit controlling devices and circuit connections; of a shaft'carrying an armature and a plurality of levers, said levers adapted, when said lever is rotated to replace said circuit controlling devices into their orma positions after they have been actuated for giving an alarm, a replacing electromagnet (R) for rotatin said armature on said shaft, a source 0 current, a relay (P) for connecting said source with said electromagne-t, and a time switch connected with said circuit connections and adapted to actuate said relay, and damping means (T)- for retarding the operation of said relay.

11. In a system of the character described,

the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated thereby, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for automatically actuating said controlling devices, and a switch (32) adapted to be operated by said controlling devices;

of a time switch circuit containing a. timeswitch having a lever, a time switch relay (32,) and a source of current to be closed by said switch (32), and a second circuit containing a relay and a source of current adapted to be closed by the lever of said time switch when said time switch circuit is closed, said relay adapted to short circuit said time switch relay in said time switch 'lever, a time switch relay (32. and a source of current adapted to be closed by said switch (32) and a second circuit containing a relay anda source of current adapted to be closed by the lever of said time switch the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated thereby, a plurality of signal box mech- I anisms for automatically actuating said controlling devices, and a switch (32) operated i by said controlling devices; of a time switch circuit containing a time switch having a lever, a time switch relay (32,) and a source of current adapted to be closed by said switch (32), a second circuit containing a Zrelay and a source of current adapted to be closed by the lever of said time switch when said time switch circuit is closed, said relay adapted to short circuit said timeswitch relay in said time switch circuit, and means for varying the stroke ofthe lever of said time switch.

14. In a system of the character described,

j the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated thereby, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for actuating said controlling devices, and a switch (32) adapted to be operated by said controlling devices; of a time switch circuit containing a time switchhaving a lever, a time switch relay (32 and a source of current to be closed by said switch (32), a second circuit containing a relay and a source of current adapted to be closed by the lever of said time switch when said switch circuit is closed, said relay adapted =to short circuit said time switch relay in- ,said time switch circuit, and a second relay (52) connected in circuit with said time switch, the armatureof said second relay ada ted to limit the stroke of the lever of sai time switch,

15. In a system of the character described,

the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actu ated thereby, a pluralit of signal box mech-- anisms-for. automatical y actuating said controlling devices, and a switch (32) operated by saidcontrolling devices; of a time switch circuit containing a time switch having a lever, a time switch relay (32,) and a source of current adapted to be closed by said switch (32) a second circuit containing a relay and a sourceof current to be closed switch circuit is closed, saidrelay short circuiting said time switch relay in said time switch circuit, a second relay (52) connected in circuit with said time switch, the armaby the lever of said time switch when said ture of said relay adapted to limit the stroke of the lever of said time switch, and a switch for normally short circuiting the second relay during a predetermined period.

16. In a system of the character described, the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated thereby, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for actuating said controlling devices, and a switch (32) operated by said controlling devices; of a time switch circuit containing a time switch and a source of current to be closed by said switch (32), a catch (55) for holding said switch in its closed position, and electromagnetic replacing means for automatically replacing said circuit controlling devices into their normal positions, andfor releasing said catch.

' 17'. In asystem of the character described,

the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices actuated thereby, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for actuating said controlling devices, and a switch (32) operated by said controlling devices; of a time switch circuit containing a time switch having a lever, a time switch relay (32 and a source of current to be closed by said switch (32), a second circuit containing a relay and a source of current to be closed by the lever of said time switch when said time switch circuit is closed, said relay short circuiting said time switch relay in said time switch circuit, a second relay (52) having an armature and being connected in circuit with said time switch,the armature of said second relay adapted to limit the stroke of the lever of said time switch, a switch for normally short circuiting said second relay during a predetermined period, and a lamp and a source of current therefor, said lamp adapted to be connected with its source of current to said short circuiting switch when said relay (52) containing a time switch and a source of current to be closed by said switch (32), a catch for holding said switch in its closed position, and electromagnetic replacing means for automatically replacing said circuit controlling devices into their normal positions, and for releasing said catch, said replacing means comprising a U-shaped replacing clectromagnet, an armature adapted to be rocked when said magnet is energized, a shaft carrying said armature and having contact operating arms causing, when operating their-respective contacts, said controlling devices and said catch to return to their normal positions.

l9. In a system of the character described, the combination with circuit controlling devices, a plurality of receiving devices controlled thereby, a plurality of signal box mechanisms for automatically actuating said controlling devices, a switch (32) operated by said circuit controlling devices, and a time switch circuit controlled by said switch (32), comprising a time switch (U) having a ratchet wheel, an elcctroma gnet (32,) having a pawl on its armature for operating said ratchet wheel when the electromagnet is energized, a short circuiting electromagnet (42) energized when eleetromagnet (32 is energized, to cause the denergizing of said magnet (32,), retarding means on the armature ofsaid short circuiting magnet, and means for varying the throw of the armature of said magnet (32,) to vary the time within which said ratchet wheel performs one revolution, a replacing electromagnet for replacing said cont-rolling devices into their normal position, a relay for controlling the energizing circuit of said replacing magnet, an energizing circuit for said relay, said ratchet wheel having means for closing the energizing circuit for said relay after it has performed one revolution.

In testimony whereof I have signed. my name to this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

CARL NOACK.

Witnesses HENRY IIAsrEn, VVULDEMAR HAUPT. 

